Sport

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Wizard of Oz: Speed, Modernism and the Last Ride of Norman 'Wizard' SmithClinton Walker Australia Wakefield Press 2013 1862549508 / 9781862549500 Soft cover New Book 23.5 x 15.5 x 2.0 cm In the bitter autumn of 1932, as the world crashed into the Great Depression, Australian motor ace Norman 'Wizard' Smith sat on the remote Ninety Mile Beach in far north New Zealand, waiting for the wind to change; waiting for a chance to drive his streamlined super car the Enterprise to a new world speed record. He would be the fastest man on earth - a golden god! He waited and waited ... Norman Smith was an enigma. A contemporary of Bradman, Kingsford Smith and Phar Lap, he was dumpy and shy. But when he got behind the wheel he became the Wizard, his command uncanny, the speeds breathless. In league with engineer Don Harkness, who designed and built the Enterprise, he was pointing Australia toward a brighter future. Until somewhere along the line, things started going wrong. What really happened on that lonely beach? Clinton Walker lays bare the tragic fall from grace of Norman 'Wizard' Smith - an ordinary man lost to an extraordinary quest, and, until now, a forgotten figure.
Price:
34.95 AUD

Darren Lockyer Autobiography [used book]Darren Lockyer and Dan Koch Australia Ebury 2011 1864712732 / 9781864712735 Hardcover Good Book Royal Darren Lockyer will celebrate his 34th birthday this year. Of those 34 years, 17 have been spent putting his body through hell in perhaps the toughest football competition on the planet. Lockyer has, quite literally, spent half his lifetime in the NRL. By season's end Lockyer is set to hold the all-time appearance record for club, state, and country. The remarkable longevity of Lockyer's excellence has earned him the respect of fellow athletes around the world and the adoration of fans everywhere. But while undoubtedly one of the most recognizable athletes in Australia, Lockyer has largely maintained his privacy, rarely, if ever, allowing fans a look at the man behind the man. In this book Lockyer, for the first time, opens up on the people, places, incidents, and events which have shaped the life and career of an Australian sporting icon. From his days growing up and working at the family-owned truck stop on the outskirts of a tiny Queensland town, to his arrival at the Broncos as a teenage sensation, and subsequent ascension toward rugby league immortality, "Lockyer" will shed new light on some of the biggest names and stories of the past two decades. Contributions from Lockyer's family and friends, as well as legendary figures give this book a unique edge, each providing a rare insight into their view on Lockyer the player, the leader, and the man.
Price:
8.00 AUD

One Foot on the PodiumDon Elgin and Kevin Moloney Australia Don Elgin 2015 0994229615 / 9780994229618 Soft cover New Book 21.0 x 14.8 x 2.0 cm Born without the lower half of his left leg, young Don Elgin never considered himself disabled until he was in high school - and even then, he had to be convinced. His story, of a boy from the bush who battled the odds and finally stepped onto the podium as a medallist at the Sydney Paralympics, is one of absolute inspiration. Driven by an inherited sense of grit, determination and pure guts, Don overcomes an abundance of obstacles to rise to the top of the sporting heap. His life's philosophy tells us that success is not a birthright - it's earned. If you're likely to buy only one book this year, make sure it's a ripper. Make it one about a boy from the bush who's hell-bent on becoming an elite sportsman. Be sure it's a true story, with ups and downs and plenty of fun times you can relate to. An inspiring insight into triumph over adversity probably won't go astray either. The one book you should buy this year tells the true story of a boy with a couple of missing body-parts and a very naughty streak that gets him in and out of trouble with his parents, school teachers and the police on his journey to the peak of Paralympic athletic competition. The one book you should definitely buy this year is One Foot On The Podium, by Don Elgin (with Kevin Moloney). Don Elgin: One Foot On The Podium is not just the rags-to-riches story of a poor disabled boy who becomes an elite athlete. It's a tell-all tale laced with his natural humour and just enough larrikinism to make him loveable. The way Don tells his story is the reason he's one of the most entertaining and engaging speakers on the Australian circuit today. About the Author: Don is a Paralympian with an amazing story to tell. Born without the lower half of his left leg Don shares his journey of what it took for him to climb to the top of the world in elite sport. His unique presentation style will have you leaving with a spring in your step.
Price:
29.95 AUD

Sunline: Heart of a Champion [used book][hard to get]Fiona McKee New Zealand Penguin 2005 0143020269 / 9780143020264 Soft cover Good Book 23.0 x 15.3 x 1.3 cm Sunline holds the record for winnings amongst the inductees to the Australian Racing Hall of Fame, and was the only horse to be inducted while still racing. She was, quite simply, a freak horse - always leading from the front, built like a stallion, a champion of champions - as epitomised by her record as a two-times winner of the elite Cox Plate. This is the story of how she came to be recognised as a great galloper by her owner and trainer Trevor McKee, who almost reluctantly took her on, only to discover as a morning gallop session that he had acquired a one-in-several-millions horse. The McKee's own story is part of that tale, from their humble beginnings, taught to ride bareback by their father, to becoming the rich and rewarded owner-trainers of a legendary galloper (descended from the great Phar Lap).
Price:
50.00 AUD

Memories of a Fox [used book]Harry Gallagher Australia Wakefield Press 1999 1862544395 / 9781862544390 Soft cover Good Book 21.0 x 14.0 x 2.0 cm Harry Gallagher's memoir is both a story of achievement and a unique love story. As a child of the Depression in Sydney's inner west Harry and his best friend Gloria made a playground of the local tip. The resourcefulness he learnt in these early years stood him in good stead as he took on the world, launching the careers of Jon Henricks, Dawn Fraser and many other swimming legends, and bringing Australia an avalanche of Olympic Gold. 'This is a story to inspire. It creeps into your bones, makes you want to achieve.' - Dawn Fraser
Price:
8.00 AUD

Rex: My Life [used book]Rex Hunt Australia MacMillan 2002 0732911370 / 9780732911379 Soft cover Good Book Trade Paperback "Rex" is the blockbuster autobiography of one of Australia's best-loved and most colourful personalities - Rex Hunt. His book is Rex to the core - funny, earthy, refreshingly direct and, above all, deeply inspirational. "Rex" tells the story of a kid who struggled at school, but who found the drive and motivation to carve out a hugely successful career as an Aussie Rules player and then as a major media figure. Along the way Rex talks about his years in the police force, his national service, the dramatic legal case against his former manager after the disappearance of millions of dollars of Rex's hard-earned money, his loving family, and of course lots and lots of football and fishing. "Rex" is packed with anecdotes and insights into the worlds of AFL, radio and television and the characters Rex has come across in his extraordinary life.
Price:
8.00 AUD

League's a Lot Like Life [used book][hard to get]Wayne Bennett and Steve Crawley Australia Harper Sports 1996 0732257255 / 9780732257255 Soft cover Good Book 20.9 x 13.5 x 1.5 cm Not strictly related to football, this text capture's Bennett's philosophy of what it takes to succeed. It includes inspirational quotes and comments from high-profile people across a range of subjects and Bennett's own profiles of the inspiring individuals he has come into contact with.
Price:
20.00 AUD